298 fireworks calls in city

In all, Lawrence police say they responded to 298 fireworks-related complaints during the holiday weekend. Police say they don't have any statistics showing how many of those calls led to citations-- but that the numbers will be available in coming days through municipal court.The calls started coming on Friday, but the majority of calls happened Monday and Tuesday, as many people ignored the city's fireworks ban. Outside the city limits, there were 17 fireworks-related complaints on Tuesday, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, even though fireworks are not banned outside the city. There were five grass fires related to fireworks in the county's rural areas, sheriff's Lt. Kari Wempe said.

Comments

yeah thanks for taking my fireworks cop wile the rest of the neighbors blasted away until 1:00 am. I can't wate untill you guys call wanting me to give money for the policemans ball or some other crap. Have fun with my kids firework jerk.

If you're going to shoot fireworks, do what we do: shoot and go. Shoot some off and move to a different location before the cops get there. Also, keep your stash splitup so the cops can't confiscat all your fun.

well i'm sure it's a mater of time before being a bad speller will be illegal in lawrence or should i say little ussr. Yeah yeah fireworks are illegal tell that to everyone else on my block, they will make enough crap illegal we will all be criminals. Oh and spell check is for loosers.

We went to Wells Overlook to shoot our fireworks. I would have been safer in my driveway. We left before it got too crazy. Some people have no clue about the safe way to shoot fireworks.
If some folks want to ignore the ban, that is fine. It's your choice. But I think the police should have sought those who were shooting after 11pm. My neighbor was shooting fireworks at midnight.

I hate to see parents who let young kids light fireworks. There's no safe way for kids to be blowing things up. Although there are still jerks who ignore the law, I love that fireworks are banned in the city. Ask the parents of the girl killed in that KC house fire if they found their neighbor's idiotic behavior appealing. I can't believe how many men are obsessed with blowing things up around other people's homes. No one shoots it towards their own home, just the homes of their neighbors. Grow up!

The fireworks on my street last night going through 2 AM were annoying, but what really galled me was the young woman at Constant Park last night watching the fireworks. It took her 6 (I'm guessing) year old son to tell her not to hold the sparkler over the bag of other fireworks because it wasn't safe. Safety did not stop either of them from lighting fireworks on the path off of 6th Street in the 30 minutes prior to the start of the city's show last night. They would light one, then sit down 20 feet away while looking around to make sure the nonexistent police presence didn't catch them. One of their fireworks kept shooting for about a full minute within 10 feet of pedestrians, passing cars, and about two dozen small children waiting for a good time. The young woman was, at most, 22, and her parents were sitting there as well. Fools like her are the reason fireworks are illegal in the city limits. Anyone who would argue either that she was safe or that the police were doing their job there joins the foolishness.

We lit a few off at our house. Funniest thing to me was the son of the neighbor who asked us not to light any off because his dad was sleeping. Had we had any more to light off at that point I would have stopped out of respect. The reason I found it funny is that they're concerned at 2:00 in the afternoon, but have no problems chaining their barking dog outside at 7:00 A.M. Didn't seem to bother them to be lighting them off outside my house when I got home around 11:45 last night either.

The Fourth of July is one of the best holidays. However, it quickly goes sour when people become irresponsible with their fireworks. I'm all for people shooting of their fireworks, just don't be stupid with them -- it ruins it for everyone. It doesn't take a genius to remember to not shoot the firecrackers at other people or other fireworks.

Secondly, when it comes to kids, I say TEACH them to use the fireworks responsibly. How do you expect children to be smart around firecrackers if you don't teach them resonsibility. If you do, they will be less likey to act like a bunch of ya-hoos when they're around the fireworks.

Thirdly, it would be great if people respected everyone else and wouldn't shoot off fireworks until midnight. I think everyone can agree with me on this one...

Just sell your house to a fellow socialist that is in love with how safe the government can make you, and leave Lawrence. Let a socialist pay for the city taxes to run the "safety government". Then they will just steal from the socialists that are left in Lawrence to make sure they are being safe.

We were in SW KS for the 4th where they have gotten all of maybe 2 inches of rain this calander year. We were still allowed to shoot fireworks. We had so much fun! Why does Lawrence insist on always spoiling traditions!?!?!?!?! Enjoy life - it really can be a lot of fun!

It is obvious to me that the "fireworks ban" is being LARGELY ignored, which begs the question why do we allow a group of neo-facist progressive Kommissioners dictate, without any being put to a vote, all these ridiculous bans.

If all the bans were as widely disregarded as this one, the Kommission would be put in the uncomfortable position of fining a very large number of citizens generating a very motivated coalition voters working against them come election time; Or simply ignoring all the violations which gives the impression that they are not respected or to be taken seriously, also not good come election time.

Here is hoping the Fourth of July is the begining of general civil disobedience of all of the Kommissions bans and a return to independence, individual freedom and democracy for Lawrence.

We went to McLouth, and lit them in the middle of the highway, and at the high school. My 7 year old was lighting her own, and did just fine. Lawrence needs to wake up, and give us back our freedom on the 4th..